The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-07-07

the highest duty.
/ cannot-who will attempt 10 define
the limits of the powers of the States and
of the general government; it is the pre-
seryation of both in their proper sphere
and for their respective duties that
is the glory OF the Constitution. 1t
would have been easy enough to have
formed strong and mighty empire. His
tory is full of examples of these A con-
federacy was at hand. But to beautifully
blend some of the best qualities of each
was what the fathers of the Constitution
did. This is the American idea developed
by the convention and it is the life giving
power in the Constitution. 1t is un-
defined, perhaps is undetnable; who is
able to draw i'll lines so clear that
all may see the point that marks the
separation of the centrifugal and centri
petal forces Of government? But that is
the path that is blazed out by the Const-
tuition, and is the lesson that Amelic;,
shall teach the nations.
distinguished statesman has said:
"Ihe whole value of the arrangement by
which our world is kept in lis place i'll the
solar system is in the balance between two
opposing forces. 1t would matter litt!e to
us which of these forces should be allowed
to prevail. If the centrifugal tendency
should dominate our planet would shoot
madly into the realms of endless space,
far away from the source of heat and
light and life, until every living thing
upon its surface would perish. II the
centrifugal tendency should prevail, the
earth would rush with inconceivable
velocity towards the sun, until it would
be engulfed in the burning mass. 50 it is
with the adjustment of powers betn cen
the State and Federal governments dis
union and Capitalization are equally fatal
to good government. Dlsunlon would
generate the centraHsm of military deSpOt-
Ism IN the separate States; Capitalization
attempted over areas and populations 50
vast would break the parts asIuder and
fill our continent, as it has filled every
other, with rival nations. our wise an
ceotors devised the only system possible
10 avoid these opposite evils They form
ed Federal government TO manage our
foreign relations, to maintain peace and
unity between the States and to admins
ter a few exceptional functions Of common
interest, and they left the great residuary
mass Of governmental powers To the State.
| have said that no cloud can be seen
across our countrys horizon to-day. Go
out upon the highest turrets of the walls
of Liberty and look as far as you can and
all is bright and clear But be not de
ceiyed. Eternal vigilance is the price Of
Hberty." 1t will be your care, fellow citl-
zeIs, to see that the blessings Of couStItu-
tio!lal liberty 50 dearly purchased by your
forefather, shall he transmitted unlmpair
ed to your children. Already the school
teachers of the State-fathtul preservers
of the pillars of the constitution are pre-
parng themselves for this duty of the
future, since only few days ago recog
nizing their high responsibility to the State
teachers of her youth, did they deter
mine to establish a school to teach the
duties of citizenship. Happy prospect.
With an intelligent, country-loving, God
fearing population peOplng this land its
future Will bring Eden back again to earth.
| have done. But you would feel that |
had left the whole back ground of the pic
ture of the days of the Constitution un-
drawn, did | stop here. l must add one
word more. and it shall be ia the language
of the grand old sage and patriot, Benja
min Franklin, uttered on that memorable
day, the 2Sth day of June. 1897, when the
fate of the Constitution trembled in the
balance He said ''We have been as
sured in sacred writings that unless the
/ Lord build the house they labor in vain
that build it" | firmly believe this; and
/ also firmly believe this, that without His
/ concurrins aid we shall succeed in this
| political building no better than the
! builders of Babel We shall be divided by
/ our little partial local interests: our prof
/ ects Will be confouuded; and We ourselves
1 shall besome a reproach and a byword
/ down to future ages. And He that
slumbers not nor sleeps and who keeps
watchfuily the city of His love, on Whose
will the life Of nations is suspended and
to Whom ali the shields of the earth be
! long, our fathers Gods he not our God
and of whom then and of what shall we
/ be afraid "